{"id":49439,"date":"2026-05-24T10:40:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sohorse.eu\/?p=49439"},"modified":"2026-05-24T10:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:40:02","slug":"belgique-victoire-coupe-des-nations-dressage-lier-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sohorse.eu\/en\/news\/2026\/05\/24\/belgique-victoire-coupe-des-nations-dressage-lier-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Red Musketeers of dressage strike again: in Lier, Belgium charts its course toward Aachen"},"content":{"rendered":"

On home soil, beneath skies that looked anything but Belgian, the national dressage team set the record straight once more. Victory in the Nations Cup at Lier, a second consecutive win at home, and above all, a growing sense that Belgium is no longer just the pleasant surprise of European dressage. It is becoming a nation that matters. With the World Championships in Aachen only months away, the outline of the team is taking shape. And honestly? It looks seriously impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lier, Belgium\u2019s dressage capital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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A few years ago, hosting a Dressage Nations Cup in Belgium still felt almost like an act of militant optimism. Today, Lier welcomes eight nations, carries the atmosphere of a major international fixture, and fields a Belgian team that wins. Twice in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a total of 225.543 points, Jeroen van Lent\u2019s Belgium dominated Great Britain (213.391) and Germany (211.804). A clear victory. Clean. Controlled. The kind of success that confirms a trend rather than delivering a one-weekend upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab These riders continue writing the history of Belgian dressage<\/em> \u201d, summed up the chef d'equipe. And it is hard to argue with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, the driving force behind belgium\u2019s project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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There are solid teams. And then there are teams that possess a partnership capable of lifting an entire stadium to its feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Already impressive in 2025 during their Nations Cup debut, Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus now seem to have entered another dimension. In Lier, they produced a Grand Prix score of 80.391%, with pirouettes rewarded by 9.5s. Yes, 9.5s. Only weeks after an enormous 83.500% performance in Fontainebleau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The most unsettling part for the competition? Verboomen himself felt things were \u201c not exactly as planned <\/em>.\u201d The eternal dissatisfaction that defines the very best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the gelding, he continues to rise. More importantly, he gives Belgium something it has never truly had before: a combination capable of chasing a world medal without feeling the need to apologise for believing in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the message is clear: Lier was the final competitive outing before the World Championships in Aachen this August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A team no longer reliant on one superstar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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That may well be Belgium\u2019s biggest development in 2026. This victory was collective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larissa Pauluis delivered one of the finest tests of her career with Flambeau (73.522%), riding with remarkable fluidity. Charlotte Defalque held her ground (69.848%), with the partnership with Valentin continuing to develop positively, while Wim Verwimp contributed his experience with a 71.630% score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In other words: Belgium now wins with depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larissa Pauluis is not simply riding the Belgian wave. She is helping create it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00ab This was probably the best Grand Prix I\u2019ve ever ridden with him.<\/em> \u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That detail matters. Because at the highest level, teams capable of fighting for medals are rarely the ones relying on a single phenomenon. Having four dependable combinations is rare. And that is precisely what Belgium is beginning to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Belgian project gains real substance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Perhaps the most interesting thing about this victory is not even the result itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the feeling of continuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Same staff. Same momentum. Same riders progressing together. Belgian dressage, long overshadowed by the German, Dutch, and British powerhouses, is finally moving forward with a clear structure and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbolically, seeing Wim Verwimp perform while simultaneously directing the event says a lot about the state of the project: committed people involved at every level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab Seeing the event grow like this makes me very proud, <\/em>\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lier is becoming more than a competition. It is turning into a showcase for the new Belgian dressage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aachen in sight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Of course, nobody hands out medals in May. Germany still leads the Nations Cup standings with 32 points, while Belgium and Great Britain follow with 23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But from a sporting perspective, something is shifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belgium heads to Aachen with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n